Network.http.keep-alive

Background

HTTP is the application-layer protocol that most web pages are transferred with. HTTP keep-alive connections can be re-used for multiple requests, as opposed to non-keep-alive connections, which are limited to one request. Using keep-alive connections improves performance. If a proxy server is not configured, this preference controls whether to use keep alive connections on supporting servers.

Possible values and their effects

true

Use keep-alive connections whenever possible. (Default in all but Minimo)

false

Never use keep-alive connections. (Default in Minimo)

Caveats

• This preference only has an effect if you are not using a proxy. If you are using a proxy, see network.http.proxy.keep-alive.

First checked in

2001-05-11 by Darin Fisher

Has an effect in

• Netscape (all versions since 6.1)
• Mozilla Suite (all versions since 0.9)
• Mozilla Phoenix (all versions)
• Mozilla Firebird (all versions)
• Mozilla Firefox (all versions)
• SeaMonkey (all versions)
• Camino (all versions)
• Minimo (all versions)

Related bugs

• Bug 76866 - http spews many "private" events before any real data events

Related preferences

• network.http.keep-alive.timeout
• network.http.max-persistent-connections-per-proxy
• network.http.max-persistent-connections-per-server
• network.http.proxy.keep-alive

External links

• Networking Preferences
• HttpKeepAlive